Career Information

As an anesthesia technician, you'll assist the anesthesiologist in the operating room. All your work will be done under direct supervision. You may set up the operating room with the necessary equipment and supplies before surgery and clean up after surgery. During surgery, you may monitor the patient's vital signs and report any issues to the anesthesiologist. You may also help prepare the patient before a procedure and monitor their recovery.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), surgical technicians are usually trained through formal college programs (www.bls.gov). Programs will typically include classroom study and clinical work experience. Continuing education may be required to maintain your knowledge of current technical advances within the field. There are no licensing or certification requirements, but you may seek voluntary certification through professional organizations.

Salary Overview

According to a January 2014 PayScale.com report, the median annual salary for anesthesia technicians was $32,492. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that surgical technologists in general earned an average salary of $43,480 as of May 2012 (www.bls.gov).

Salary by Years of Experience

The hourly earnings for anesthesia technicians varied by experience. According to PayScale.com, in January 2014, those with less than one year of experience earned $9.08-$20.00 an hour. Technicians with 1-4 years of experience earned $11.45-$21.20 an hour, while earnings for those with 5-9 years of experience were $13.88-$24.65. Those with 10-19 years of experience earned $12.67-$28.49 an hour.

Salary by Industry

In May 2012, the BLS reported average annual wages for surgical technologists working for various industries. Those employed by general medical and surgical hospitals made an average wage of $42,700 a year. Those working for physicians' offices averaged $45,500, while those working for outpatient care centers made an average wage of $45,560. Those working for dentists' offices averaged $40,460 a year. Offices of other health practitioners paid the highest average wage of $51,900.

Salary by Location

According to PayScale.com in January 2014, anesthesia technicians working in Wisconsin made hourly wages of $15.29-$20.16, while those working in Texas made $12.62-$24.50 hourly. California's hourly salaries ranged from $14.53-$31.56. Salaries were lower in Florida, where workers made $10.23-$15.31 an hour.

Job Outlook

According to the BLS, surgical technologist employment will grow very quickly at a rate of 30% over the period spanning 2012 through 2022. An increase in surgeries and the growth of the aging generation both contribute to this change in employment.